By American Repertory Ballet
BRANCHBURG, NJ – American Repertory Ballet’s exciting Spring Season opener Spring into Love will be held on March 17, 2012 at The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ. The performance will feature four virtuoso company premieres: the world premiere of the balcony scene from Company Director Douglas Martin’s new Romeo and Juliet, a major revival of Gerald Arpino’s Confetti, a world premiere by ARB Resident Choreographer Mary Barton, and Trinette Singleton’s Capriccios. Off the stage, ARB is partnering with five restaurants in Downtown Somerville, NJ to bring fine dining together with the arts.
Headlining Spring into Love will be an iconic love story. Martin has choreographed a new version of the traditional ballet Romeo and Juliet, which is based off Shakespeare’s famous play. Martin says of Prokofiev’s lush Romeo and Juliet score, “This is one of, if not the most, moving scores to dance to. The emotion it evokes in the performer is astoundingly moving.” Spring into Love will give a sneak peek into this new full ballet, featuring the romantic balcony scene pas de deux.
Airing more on the “spring” part of the performance title, Gerald Arpino’s Confetti is a ballet for three couples set to the exuberant music of Rossini’s “Semiramide” Overture. It is, in the words of the choreographer, a “frolicsome, frothy romp in the spirit of the tarantella,” complete with tambourines and brightly colored costumes. The Joffrey Ballet, of which Gerald Arpino was co-founder with Robert Joffrey, premiered Confetti in 1968. As a former dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, Douglas Martin is very excited to be bringing this Arpino piece into ARB’s repertoire. “When I danced with the Joffrey, I loved dancing Arpino ballets,” he says, “and I’m thrilled that the dancers of ARB will have the opportunity to dance Arpino’s work, too.”
The two female choreographers whose work will be featured in Spring into Love, Trinette Singleton and ARB Resident Choreographer Mary Barton, are also former Joffrey Ballet dancers. Barton is choreographing a piece especially for ARB’s dynamic male dancers. Her first all-male piece, this new work promises to showcase a new side of Barton’s unique, intricate choreographic style. Trinette Singleton’s Capriccios, set to Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto #2, features the female dancers of ARB, showcasing nine women and one male dancer.
Spring into Love promises to be a varied program with top-notch dancing and music. Before the show, audience members can enjoy diverse fine dining experiences in nearby Somerville, NJ. Those who dine at Il Pomodoro, KYMA Greek Cuisine, Scampi’s Seafood, Tapastre, and Verve restaurants now through March 16 can enjoy discounts to the performance.
About American Repertory Ballet
American Repertory Ballet’s mission is to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and nationwide audiences and to dance students through artistic and educational programs. The organization is comprised of: American Repertory Ballet, the preeminent contemporary ballet company in the state; Princeton Ballet School, one of the largest and most respected non-profit dance schools in the nation; and the Access and Enrichment initiatives, ranging from the long-running and acclaimed DANCE POWER program to the newly launched On Pointe series. The professional company is a classical and contemporary ballet company committed to presenting ballets from the 19th and 20th century alongside new and existing works by choreographers from today. Founded in 1963, the company is currently under the artistic leadership of Douglas Martin, former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. The company’s rich history of repertory includes established masterpieces by distinguished American choreographers such as George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp; cutting edge works by choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Kirk Peterson, Dominique Dumais, Harrison McEldowney, Amy Seiwert, Susan Shields and Melissa Barak; and former Artistic Directors Dermot Burke, Marjorie Mussman, Septime Webre and Graham Lustig.
ARB has been designated a "Major Arts Institution" by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts consistently for the past two decades, and has repeatedly been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. ARB was voted People’s Choice for Best Dance Company in 2008 and 2012.
